Highlights

  • Report / Paper / Summary
    7
    March
    2024
    Tackling greenwashing is an issue where human rights, consumer rights and climate goals align. Companies use greenwashing to convince people to buy products that are not always as environmentally friendly as they claim to be. They mislead consumers and harm the environment. This report shows how a human rights approach can combat greenwashing. It is based on consultations with experts in 10 Member States. The report identifies gaps in existing laws and enforcement. It includes case studies of consumers seeking remedies for misleading environmental claims. The EU and Member States should enforce rules that make it harder for companies to make misleading environmental claims. They should strengthen rules that make it easier for consumers to prove that companies are greenwashing. Consumer and environmental organisations already hold governments and business to account. Governments should make it easier to use collective action for the protection of consumer rights and the environment.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    26
    March
    2024
    The European Arrest Warrant (EAW) allows Member States to implement judicial decisions issued in another Member State. It applies to decisions such as arrests for the purpose of criminal prosecutions or the execution of custodial sentences. After being in force for over 20 years, FRA’s findings provide evidence for an assessment of the legislation in practice. This report looks at the fundamental rights challenges that people face who are requested through an EAW. It provides a unique insight into their experiences and those of the professionals involved. FRA’s findings indicate that shared challenges exist across EU Member States. They must increase efforts to ensure that people are able to take part in criminal proceedings and receive a fair trial.
  • Report / Paper / Summary
    21
    June
    2022
    Every child has a right to be protected even when they are accused or suspected of committing a crime. The basic principles of justice apply to adults and children alike. But children face specific obstacles during criminal proceedings, such as a lack of understandable information about their rights, limited legal support and poor treatment. The report looks at the practical implementation of Directive (EU) 2016/800 on procedural safeguards for children who are suspects or accused persons in criminal proceedings in nine Member States – Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Estonia, Italy, Malta, Poland and Portugal.
  • Handbook / Guide / Manual
    22
    June
    2016
    Access to justice is an important element of the rule of law. It enables individuals to protect themselves against infringements of their rights, to remedy civil wrongs, to hold executive power accountable and to defend themselves in criminal proceedings. This handbook summarises the key European legal principles in the area of access to justice, focusing on civil and criminal law.
    Productos
    5
    September
    2018
    Severe labour exploitation is widespread across the European Union. While workplace inspections can help counter this phenomenon, they need to be strengthened to do so effectively. Based on interviews and focus group discussions with almost 240 exploited workers active in diverse economic sectors, this report provides important evidence on how unscrupulous employers manipulate and undermine inspections, and on what can be done to counteract such efforts.
    6
    September
    2018
    Workers are being severely exploited for their labour across the EU, and
    inspections are not effective at stopping this reality. Based on interviews with
    almost 240 workers – including non-EU citizens who came to the EU and
    EU nationals who moved to another EU country to work – a new FRA report
    outlines the problem and identifies ways to bolster inspections.
    6
    June
    2018
    The year 2017 brought both progress and setbacks in terms of rights protection. The European Pillar of Social Rights marked an important move towards a more ‘social Europe’. But, as experiences with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights underscore, agreement on a text is merely a first step. Even in its eighth year as the EU's binding bill of rights, the Charter's potential was not fully exploited, highlighting the need to more actively promote its use.
    6
    June
    2018
    En el año 2017 hubo tantos avances como retrocesos en materia de protección de derechos fundamentales. El Informe sobre los derechos fundamentales 2018 de la FRA analiza los principales acontecimientos en este ámbito, destacando tanto los progresos realizados como los obstáculos que se siguen encontrando.
    17
    May
    2018
    Las organizaciones de la sociedad civil de la Unión Europea desempeñan un papel crucial en la promoción de los derechos fundamentales, pero les resulta más difícil hacerlo, debido
    a restricciones tanto jurídicas como prácticas. Si bien existen dificultades en todos los Estados miembros de la UE, difieren en su naturaleza exacta y su magnitud. Por lo general, se
    carece de datos e investigaciones sobre esta cuestión, incluida una investigación comparativa. El informe de la FRA analiza los distintos tipos y patrones que presentan las dificultades
    a las que se enfrentan las organizaciones de la sociedad civil que trabajan en el ámbito de los derechos humanos en la UE. También pone de relieve buenas prácticas que pueden contrarrestar estas tendencias preocupantes.
    9
    May
    2018
    Debido a las crecientes amenazas que el terrorismo, los ciberataques y las sofisticadas redes delictivas transfronterizas plantean, la labor de los servicios de inteligencia tiene un carácter más urgente, complejo e internacional. Dicha labor puede interferir gravemente con los derechos fundamentales, en especial con la privacidad y la protección de datos. Aunque los avances tecnológicos continuos pueden agravar la amenaza de dicha injerencia, una supervisión y vías de recurso efectivos pueden poner freno a los posibles abusos.
    25
    April
    2018
    This report outlines Member States’ approaches to age requirements and limits
    regarding child participation in judicial proceedings; procedural safeguards for, and rights of, children involved in criminal
    proceedings; as well as issues related to depriving children of their liberty.
    25
    April
    2018
    The right to access justice and all other relevant procedural rights are not just rights in themselves; they also protect against violations of every other right. Respect for children’s rights in the area of justice is therefore essential. International treaties, the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, European Union (EU) secondary law, and national legislation provide a number of relevant rights.
    3
    January
    2018
    Inside this book you will read about the justice system and the problems in justice for children and how to fix the problems.
    7
    July
    2017
    Various proposals on EU-level information systems in the areas of borders and security mention interoperability, aiming to provide fast and easy access to information about third-country nationals.
    30
    May
    2017
    Diverse efforts at both EU and national levels sought to bolster fundamental rights protection in 2016, while some measures threatened to undermine such protection.
    30
    May
    2017
    Diverse efforts at both EU and national levels sought to bolster fundamental rights protection in 2016, while some measures threatened to undermine such protection.
    22
    February
    2017
    Around 2.5 million children participate in judicial proceedings across the European Union (EU)
    every year, affected by parental divorce or as victims of, or witnesses to, crime. Although their
    effective participation in such proceedings is vital for improving the operation of justice, the
    treatment of children in justice systems remains a concern.
    22
    February
    2017
    Around 2.5 million children participate in judicial proceedings across the European Union (EU) every year, affected by parental divorce or as victims of, or witnesses to, crime. Although their effective participation in such proceedings is vital for improving the operation of justice, the treatment of children in justice systems remains a concern. FRA investigated to what extent children’s rights to be heard, to be informed, to be protected, and to non-discrimination are fulfilled in practice.
    10
    November
    2016
    EU Member States have largely implemented, and started applying, three instruments on transferring prison sentences, probation measures and alternative sanctions, as well as pre-trial supervision measures, to other Member States. This report provides an overview of their first experiences with these measures, highlighting both best practices and shortcomings.
    10
    November
    2016
    Protecting the human rights of individuals subject to criminal proceedings is an essential element of the rule of law. Persons who are suspected or accused of crimes in countries other than their own are particularly vulnerable, making appropriate procedural safeguards especially crucial. This report reviews Member States’ legal frameworks, policies and practices regarding the important rights provided in these directives, including with respect to individuals whose needs may require additional attention, such as persons with disabilities and children.
    The Agency’s Director, Michael O’Flaherty, took part in a meeting of the European Parliament Employment Committee on 8 November.
    This infographic looks at ways to improve the implementation of various EU criminal justice laws on the right to information, interpretation and translation that apply to Member States to guarantee common EU-wide minimum standards for rights protection.
    This infographic looks at improving the implementation of the various EU criminal justice laws that apply to cross-border transfers, pre- and post- trial.
    The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and the European Court of Human Rights launched a practical handbook on European law relating to access to justice at the Fundamental Rights Forum on 22 June 2016.